Rosser residents gathered at the Grosse Isle Community Hall on July 28 to attend a public hearing regarding a conditional use application to allow for the expansion of Lilyfield Quarry’s existing aggregate quarry operation.
The land is designated as an agricultural area in the South Interlake Planning District’s development plan; however, it’s appropriately designated and zoned for council to consider an aggregate extraction operation. The land is currently cultivated and it has medium aggregate potential.
No quarrying operations are proposed within 400 metres of nearby residences, but the provincial government’s Community Planning Services Branch noted the potential of the proposed operation to create nuisances for nearby landowners such as dust, noise, vibrations and traffic.
Provincial departments recommended several conditions, including submission of traffic projections and a heritage resources impact assessment and heritage resources protection plan. The Historic Resources Branch expressed concerns since a historic trail is in the development’s footprint. As well, centennial farms and a family cemetery are located nearby.
Manitoba Environment and Climate Change also recommended that a wetland assessment be conducted to ensure that no regulated wetlands would be impacted.
The provincial reviews also point out the need to restore the land in keeping with the provincial aggregate rehabilitation program to ensure that the land is left safe, environmentally stable and compatible with adjoining residential and farmlands.
Council is now in their deliberation phase as a result of the hearing they conducted.
In other council news:
• The Public Utilities Board ordered the RM of Rosser to review its CentrePort utility rates and file a full rate study, as well as apply for revised rates, if needed, by June 30. The municipality is requesting an extension to Dec. 31 to file the report.
• Council accepted a $12,160 quote from CVLNS for Phase 1 of the strategic planning process.
• The CAO is authorized to attend the Manitoba Municipal Administrators golf tournament on Sept. 7. Expenses will be paid.
• The CAO is authorized to proceed with necessary steps for expropriation proceedings to acquire lands to construct a drain in order to prevent and control flooding in the municipality. Due to increases in the quantity of rainfall during major rain events over the last couple of years and functional issues with the city protection drain, the RM of Rosser has been acquiring land to build an additional drain to move water parallel to the Brookside Boulevard drain. The RM’s goal is to alleviate water holding in the Brookport Business Park drainage area, which leads to some short-term floods in some of the ditched and roadways during a major rain event.
